For older children and adults common symptoms include sudden fever, vomiting, headache and stiff neck or backache.

For babies, symptoms generally include fever, neck stiffness, and irritability, drowsiness, vomiting, not feeding properly or having a lack of muscle tone.

“If detected early, most cases of meningococcal disease can be treated. This is why it is important that everyone knows the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease and seek urgent medical advice at their nearest health facility if they suspect they have disease,” Dr Devi said.

She said anyone can get the disease. People can also protect themselves from the disease by practicing good hygiene.

This includes covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief when coughing and sneezing; disposing of tissues in the bin after coughing or sneezing; and washing hands regularly with soap and water, or hand sanitise.

Parents, guardian and members of the community at large have been urged to make good use of this opportunity.

The vaccination campaign against meningococcal disease for school children and adolescents in the Macuata Division started on Monday.

The campaign aims to vaccinate up to 70,000 children and adolescents against the deadly disease.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services declared an outbreak of the meningococcal disease in the late March.

Meningococcal disease is a life-threatening disease which usually causes meningitis, inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord and septicaemia (blood poisoning).

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services confirmed that there were 58 reported cases of meningococcal from January 1 to April 22 this year. Two were from the Northern Division.